Food for Bombs in North Korea

When I was in school, I read about a popular program that involved trading guns for various things that were considerably more helpful to society and less dangerous to it as well. There were trades of guns for food and guns for toys — the programs were meant to get guns off of the streets and to benefit the hopefully former gun holders. I feared that the same people may have just gone out and illegally acquired more guns so that they could get more toys and food but that was just me.

The situation in North Korea seems just perfect for this kind of exchange scenario. Although their propaganda promotes an image of a North Korea that is prosperous and well off, it is full of extreme famine and poverty. I am therefore quite surprised that our governments have come to a diplomatic agreement that will ensure not only a hope for less war in the world but less famine as well.

The agreement is multifold in that North Korea is agreeing to a number of things in order to get the food aid from the United States. It will allow nuclear inspectors back into the country after a long moratorium during which they were forbidden. Further, there is to be a long term suspension on such threatening weapons as long range missiles along with nuclear tests and any nuclear weapons.

It is entirely possible that I can be a bit of a pessimist when it comes to this but I am concerned for how this will play out in the long run. Specifically, I can’t help but think that it will just be a matter of time before the leadership in North Korea grows weary of not continuing with their weapon program and will cut off food aid so that they can continue about their weapon making ways.

A greater hope, I believe, would be for the people of The United States to establish a friendly relationship with the people of North Korea and help them understand that we are not the enemy — it will be easier to see when we are the people providing the food that goes on their plates. Of course, with propaganda any spin is possible.